hot detention

⋆ 𐙚 ̊.CHAPTER 17✶⋆.˚

🇽​​🇴​, ​🇪​​🇻​​🇪​​🇱​​🇾​​🇳

A LOUD GASP pierced through the quiet dorm room.

Kitty shot up in bed, clutching her chest as if she had just seen a ghost. Her heart pounded, her breathing uneven, and her mind reeled from the dream.

Evelyn stirred at the sudden noise, groaning as she felt a sharp pang in her head. The hangover hit her in full force.

"Kitty, what the hell?" Evelyn mumbled, pressing her palm against her forehead, trying to ease the dull throbbing in her skull.

Kitty didn't answer. Instead, she threw the blankets off, jumped out of bed, and bolted out of the room.

Evelyn groaned again, dragging herself up, but the movement only made the headache worse. She squinted as sunlight streamed in through the window, making her nausea intensify.

She was never drinking again.

Still, curiosity got the best of her, and she forced herself to follow Kitty out.

In the common area, Q was sprawled out on the couch, half-asleep, wrapped in a blanket like a human burrito. Kitty ran to him and shook him awake.

"Q, wake up!" she whisper-yelled.

Q groaned. "What the—Kitty, what time is it?"

"Doesn't matter!" Kitty said, flailing her hands.

Minho, standing in the kitchen, stirred his coffee with a practiced flick of his wrist. His hair was slightly messy, but it somehow still looked perfect.

Without looking up, he spoke. "Q, did you drink my collagen water?"

Q barely lifted his head from the couch. "What?"

Minho finally turned around, narrowing his eyes. "Or was it you?" he asked, his gaze flicking toward Kitty.

Before she could answer, Evelyn stumbled out of the room, her hand still on her forehead.

The second her eyes landed on Minho, it hit her.

Flashbacks of last night.

His arms around her waist. His warm, teasing voice. His lips way too close.

Her cheeks flushed deep red, and she immediately hurried to sit next to Q and Kitty, hoping no one noticed.

But of course, Minho noticed.

His lips curled into a smirk. "My collagen water is meant to keep my skin dewy, not rehydrate people who can't handle their liquor."

His eyes flicked to Evelyn knowingly, and her face burned even more.

Damn him.

Q, still half-asleep, groaned. "My god, why are you all screaming? It's the middle of the night, and I'm still drunk."

Minho rolled his eyes. "It's 8 in the morning, and thanks to someone, my party dynasty has come to an untimely end. So yeah, I'm in a mood."

"Are you in the mood to make me coffee?" Q asked.

"Yes, but I will deeply resent you."

Q smiled. "I can live with that."

Minho sighed but turned back to the kitchen, preparing another cup.

Meanwhile, Kitty fidgeted. She looked between Q and Evelyn, biting her lip, before finally saying, "Q, Evie... can I ask you something?"

Q didn't even open his eyes. "Yes, I drank his collagen water." He motioned toward his lips dramatically.

Evelyn, still flustered from the morning, blurted out without thinking, "Yes, I was jealous of Madison."

The room went silent.

Q's eyes snapped open.

Kitty's jaw dropped.

Evelyn's heart stopped.

Shit.

She wasn't supposed to say that.

Kitty, still recovering from the shock, shook her head. "Uh... not what I was going to ask."

Evelyn immediately covered her face. "Kill me now."

Q, now fully awake, smirked. "Wait, wait, let's rewind a second—did you just say you were jealous of Madison?"

Evelyn gasped. "No!" she denied quickly, but the damage was already done.

Minho, who had been focused on making coffee, froze.

His grip on the coffee cup tightened slightly, but he said nothing.

Kitty, trying to distract from Evelyn's embarrassment, cleared her throat. "Actually, I was going to ask about my dream last night."

Q smirked. "You had a sex dream?"

"No!"

"Was it about Dae?" Evelyn added.

"No."

"Or someone you met last night?"

"Neither." Kitty crossed her arms, looking defensive. "And no, I didn't say it was a sex dream."

Q grinned. "You didn't need to."

Minho returned with two coffee mugs, handing one to Kitty and the other to Q.

Evelyn frowned. "Where's mine?"

Minho smirked. "Oh hush, sweet lady, your hangover soup is ready."

Evelyn groaned. She hated hangover soup.

Kitty sighed. "That doesn't even matter. Dreams don't mean anything."

Minho took a slow sip of his coffee. "She's right. They don't mean anything. You never have to think about them again. You could have a dream about someone you've repulsed your whole life and it wouldn't mean a thing."

He said it too quickly.

Evelyn raised a brow, but before she could question it, Kitty spoke.

"Exactly! Thank you, Minho. Minho could have dreamt about someone—say, Evelyn."

Minho choked on his coffee.

Q and Kitty's eyes snapped to him.

Q smirked. "Oh my god. You had a sex dream about Evelyn."

Minho, still coughing, glared. "No, I didn't."

Q shrugged. "I'm not hearing a denial."

Minho set his coffee down, his jaw tightening. "If I had a sex dream about Raven, it would be a sex nightmare."

Ouch.

Evelyn felt a sting in her chest but masked it with a bored expression, sipping her soup.

"I'm just saying," Q continued, "sex dreams mean something. And if they don't, then why would Minho carry a girl he 'hates' all the way back to the dorm when she was drunk?"

Minho scoffed. "I will always carry a drunk girl home."

Q raised a brow. "I'm pretty sure you'd leave Madison on the streets."

Minho opened his mouth. Paused. Then closed it.

Because Q was right.

Evelyn finally spoke, her voice nonchalant. "He wouldn't, Q. He and Madison were making out at the party last night."

Q and Kitty's eyes widened.

"You WHAT?!" Kitty shrieked.

Evelyn took another slow sip of her soup, acting unbothered. But deep inside?

She wasn't.

And Minho knew it.

A sudden, sharp knock echoed through the dorm.

"Resident advisor."

Everyone in the room froze.

Evelyn's spoon clattered against the table. Q bolted upright, his hangover suddenly forgotten. Kitty and Minho exchanged panicked looks.

Before anyone could react, a click sounded from the door.

"Using the master key," Alex's voice rang out just before the door swung open.

He stepped inside, arms crossed, gaze sweeping across the guilty-looking group.

Alex let out a slow, unimpressed exhale. "Well, I hope last night was worth it, because—" he leaned against the doorway "—you're all in trouble."

Evelyn groaned. Q flopped back onto the couch, dramatic as ever. Kitty slapped her forehead.

Minho, ever the smartass, sipped his coffee. "Define 'trouble.'"

Alex shot him a look. "Saturday detention. Library. Eight hours. Professor Lee."

Minho froze mid-sip.

"Eight hours?" Q choked.

"Professor Lee?" Kitty nearly cried.

But Alex was already walking out. "All the best."

And just like that, the weekend was ruined.

LIBRARY ⋆. 𐙚 ˚

The library was dead silent.

The fluorescent lights buzzed softly, the air thick with boredom and regret.

Round tables stretched across the room, each one filled with students who had suffered the same fate.

Kitty sat with Yuri, heads close together, whispering.

Dae, Q, and Florian huddled together, trying to entertain themselves without getting caught.

And Evelyn?

She was alone.

She slumped in her seat, idly twirling a pen between her fingers. Her head was still pounding from the hangover, and she was one minor inconvenience away from losing it.

That's when she heard it.

The familiar sound of someone plopping down into the seat next to her.

Minho.

Of course.

She didn't even need to look. She could already smell his expensive cologne.

He sat back with a dramatic sigh. "Lucky me. Stuck here all day. Guess I'll just have to suffer through this."

Evelyn shot him a side glance. "There were other empty seats."

Minho smirked, tilting his head toward her. "Yeah, but none as fun as this one."

She rolled her eyes and turned away, choosing to ignore him.

But Minho?

He had other plans.

Leaning in slightly, he whispered, "So, still thinking about me making out with Madison?"

Evelyn's jaw clenched.

This was going to be a long eight hours.

Evelyn exhaled sharply and gripped her pen like she wanted to snap it in half.

"Oh, please. I couldn't care less about what—or who—you do," she muttered, flipping through the pages of her notebook.

Minho smirked, resting his chin on his hand as he studied her.

"Really? Because you brought it up first."

Evelyn's grip tightened. "Because Q and Kitty didn't know, genius."

Minho clicked his tongue. "Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that, Raven."

Evelyn's head snapped toward him. "Can you, for once, just not be insufferable?"

Minho gasped dramatically. "Me? Insufferable? And here I thought you loved my presence."

Evelyn scoffed and turned away, choosing to ignore him.

Professor Lee, seated at the front, cleared his throat loudly.

"If you're going to whisper, do it somewhere else. Or better yet—don't whisper at all." His stern gaze fell on Minho and Evelyn, making both of them stiffen.

"Yes, sir," they muttered in unison.

Minho leaned back in his chair and smirked. "See? Now we're getting in trouble together. Just like a real couple."

Evelyn's face twisted in horror. "You are actually delusional."

Minho shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe you just can't admit how much fun you have when I'm around."

Evelyn turned away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response.

But the truth?

Her stomach twisted at his words. Because as much as she wanted to deny it—

She did have fun with him.

And that was the most infuriating part of all.

Madison had appeared out of nowhere, plopping down beside Minho like she belonged there. Then, without so much as a glance at Evelyn, she grabbed his notebook and started doodling on it.

Evelyn clenched her jaw but refused to react.

"Oh my god, Minho," Madison giggled, twirling her pen between her fingers. "Last night was fun, wasn't it? We should do it again sometime."

Evelyn froze.

Her fingers tightened around her pen as if she could channel every ounce of frustration into snapping it in half.

Minho sighed, clearly irritated. "Madison, not now."

She pouted dramatically. "Why not? We had a great time. You can admit it."

Minho rolled his eyes, shutting his notebook. "Go away, Madison."

She blinked at him, clearly not expecting rejection. "What?"

Minho gestured vaguely. "Leave. Shoo. Go bother someone else."

Madison huffed but didn't move, instead leaning into his space.

Evelyn couldn't do this. She couldn't sit there and listen to Madison talk about last night like it was some perfect romantic moment when every cell in her body screamed at her to hate him—but failed.

And then, as if things couldn't get worse, Professor Lee stood up and cleared his throat.

"I need to step out for a moment to check on something in the gymnasium," he announced. "Madison Miller, you've proven yourself trustworthy. You are now in charge while I'm gone. Please make sure everyone is studying quietly."

Minho snorted. Evelyn gawked. Q choked on air.

Madison, on the other hand, smiled sweetly. "Yes, sir. You heard him—eyes down."

A collective groan spread through the students.

But as soon as the door clicked shut, Madison dropped the act.

"Kidding," she smirked, flipping her hair. "Do whatever. Be careful if you're going to vape, crack a window. You—" she pointed at some random kid, "—keep watch by the door and warn us when Lee's coming."

Everyone stared at her.

"What? Have none of you gotten stuck in Saturday detention and kept the party going when your teacher leaves the room? Oh, y'all are so cute."

She clapped her hands. "Alright, poker game in the World History section. Make-outs move on back by the rare books. I like organized chaos. Go."

There was a beat of silence—then chaos erupted.

People scrambled, laughing as they split into groups. Someone even blasted music from their phone.

Madison turned back to Minho with a smug smile. "Minho, sweetheart—"

"Rare books, Minho."

Evelyn's voice cut through the noise like a blade.

Before he could react, she grabbed his arm and pulled him away.

Minho barely had time to glance back at Madison's stunned face before Evelyn dragged him toward the back of the library, her grip tight and unwavering.

And for once—

He didn't resist.

Minho let Evelyn pull him toward the back of the library, weaving through shelves stacked with centuries-old books that smelled like dust and history.

She didn't stop until they were completely out of sight. Only then did she release his arm, crossing her own over her chest.

Minho raised a brow, rubbing the spot where her fingers had gripped him. "Jeez, Raven. If you wanted to be alone with me, you could've just said so."

Evelyn rolled her eyes, ignoring the heat creeping up her neck.

"Shut up."

Minho smirked, stepping closer. "So? What's the emergency? Couldn't bear the thought of me sitting next to Madison for another second?"

Evelyn hated how much he was enjoying this. She had acted purely on impulse—her body moving before she could think. And now? She had no explanation, no excuse, nothing.

So, she did what she did best.

She deflected.

"I just—ugh, you heard her! 'Minho, sweetheart'—give me a break. And why were you letting her doodle on your notebook like that?"

Minho blinked, caught off guard. "Why do you care?"

"I don't!" she snapped, then immediately regretted how defensive she sounded.

Minho's grin widened. "Ohhh, you totally care."

Evelyn groaned and turned away, pressing her fingers against her temples.

"This was a mistake," she muttered. "Go back to Madison. I'm sure she's just dying to finish whatever the hell you two started last night."

Minho's expression shifted. The teasing glint in his eyes flickered into something else—something unreadable.

"I didn't kiss her."

Evelyn stilled.

Slowly, she turned her head, brows furrowed.

"What?"

Minho exhaled sharply, leaning against the nearest bookshelf. "I didn't kiss her."

Evelyn searched his face for any sign of a lie, but all she found was annoyance—maybe even frustration.

"But she—I saw—"

"You saw wrong," Minho cut in. "I wasn't interested. Didn't stop her from throwing herself at me, though."

Evelyn should have felt relief. She should have.

But instead—she just felt stupid.

Stupid for assuming. Stupid for caring at all.

Minho studied her, his usual arrogance fading into something... softer.

"Did you want me to kiss her?" he asked, voice low.

Evelyn's stomach flipped.

She should have said yes. She should have smirked and shot back something sarcastic, something cruel.

But she didn't.

Because the truth—the truth was so much worse.

So, instead, she just held his gaze, heart pounding, and said the only thing she could:

"I don't care what you do."

Minho didn't look convinced. But he let it go.

A silence settled between them, thick and unspoken.

Somewhere on the other side of the library, someone cheered over a poker win.

Finally, Minho exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.

"We should get back before people start assuming we're making out back here," he muttered, pushing off the bookshelf.

Evelyn let out a short, dry laugh. "Right. Wouldn't want to give people the wrong idea."

She turned to leave first, but just as she reached the end of the row—

Minho's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"For the record?"

She glanced back.

"If I did have a choice between kissing Madison or kissing you?" He smirked, dark and mischievous.

"It wouldn't be her."

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat.

Minho just winked and walked past her—back into the chaos.

And Evelyn?

She was screwed.

ruka:

back with another banger. im in love with this chapter. so much tension so much feelings ahhhhhhhhhhhh im so excited to write the next chapter!!! hope yall have a good dayy